SA schoolboy cricketers hit by lightning

Two schoolboy cricketers in Johannesburg remain in intensive care after being struck by lightning and needing resuscitation while pulling on the covers during a practice session on Tuesday.

Nine players from King Edward VII School, where Graeme Smith was a pupil, were hit during the incident with five needing hospital treatment although three of those were released on Wednesday. The school cancelled its fixtures for Wednesday and counselling has been offered to those involved. Two of the players struck are understood to be part of the Gauteng Under-19 set-up.

An off-duty paramedic, Mike Russell, who had been at the school to watch his son's cricket match before it was cancelled because of the storm, was able to give CPR to two boys who had suffered cardiac arrest.

"It's basically a miracle to get two patients out of cardiac arrest using basic CPR," he told the Star. "The storm came up really quickly. When the second lightning bolt hit, we still had guys walking off the field."

Smith offered his thoughts to the injured. "It's an unfortunate tragedy that has happened to the KES boys. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their loved ones and families during this difficult and sad time. The Proteas would like to wish the nine boys a speedy recovery, and we hope to see them back on the cricket field as soon as possible."

The headmaster, David Lovett, said in a statement: "I would like to thank all the members of the King Edward community for ongoing support, and in particular would like to thank all those involved in the medical care offered to our boys yesterday."

Lightning is common on the South African Highveld, especially in the summer, and does not always have to be accompanied by rain. There was a recent case of other school children being struck by lightning as they walked home in nearby Soweto.

In schools matches it is down to the teachers to decide when conditions become too dangerous to continue. Umpires at international level are also quick to take players off if there are thunderstorms close to the ground.

Simon Gear, a climatologist, told the Star this area of South Africa has the highest incidence of strikes in the world in relation to the size of the land area. "It sounds like the teachers did get the cricketers off the field… but if sport is stopped every time there are thunderclouds, there'd be no sport played in the country."

The South African Weather service said more than 260 are killed by lightning in the country each year.

As someone who grew up 5kms from both the wanderers and kes these storms are commonplace...As was mentioned in the article if u stop playiin everytime there are thunderclouds there would never be a full game on the highveld

Hersh
on February 13, 2013, 21:11 GMT

Extremely Heartbreaking. Very Sad.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 20:13 GMT

this is first time i have heard something like this... its very sad and hope the kids get well soon and are back on the fieldd.... our prayers go out to them...

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 16:40 GMT

hope we will see these kids on cricket field soon! get well soon!!

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 16:07 GMT

Unfortunate,i hope SA cricket board supports them in all ways for a speedy recovery.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 15:12 GMT

@palla Storms in Johannesburg appear very quickly and are very intense. I live in the same street as KES. There are lightning conductors all over the ridge, our house has one, but we still get hit about once a year. It's not really possible to make an iron ore ridge lightning proof in a storm. The KES fields are actually behind the main ridge, so this would have been quite an unlucky strike. I hope they are all ok.

j
on February 13, 2013, 15:11 GMT

About as an unlucky as you could get for playing cricket. Hope they all recover.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 14:52 GMT

hope to see them back on the cricket field as soon as possible

Farrukh
on February 14, 2013, 6:24 GMT

Very very Sad New........get well sooon........

Dummy4
on February 14, 2013, 4:26 GMT

oh...very unlucky news.........Get well soon..

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 22:11 GMT

As someone who grew up 5kms from both the wanderers and kes these storms are commonplace...As was mentioned in the article if u stop playiin everytime there are thunderclouds there would never be a full game on the highveld

Hersh
on February 13, 2013, 21:11 GMT

Extremely Heartbreaking. Very Sad.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 20:13 GMT

this is first time i have heard something like this... its very sad and hope the kids get well soon and are back on the fieldd.... our prayers go out to them...

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 16:40 GMT

hope we will see these kids on cricket field soon! get well soon!!

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 16:07 GMT

Unfortunate,i hope SA cricket board supports them in all ways for a speedy recovery.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 15:12 GMT

@palla Storms in Johannesburg appear very quickly and are very intense. I live in the same street as KES. There are lightning conductors all over the ridge, our house has one, but we still get hit about once a year. It's not really possible to make an iron ore ridge lightning proof in a storm. The KES fields are actually behind the main ridge, so this would have been quite an unlucky strike. I hope they are all ok.

j
on February 13, 2013, 15:11 GMT

About as an unlucky as you could get for playing cricket. Hope they all recover.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 14:52 GMT

hope to see them back on the cricket field as soon as possible

sam
on February 13, 2013, 14:49 GMT

Such a sad tragedy! Wishing everyone a fast recovery.

avinash
on February 13, 2013, 14:49 GMT

very sad and hard too believe i hope they get recovered as soon as possible and stadium authorities take care of equipments that can stop lighting near grounds and stadiums.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 14:02 GMT

unbelievable. I wish a quick recovery for all the students

No featured comments at the moment.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 14:02 GMT

unbelievable. I wish a quick recovery for all the students

avinash
on February 13, 2013, 14:49 GMT

very sad and hard too believe i hope they get recovered as soon as possible and stadium authorities take care of equipments that can stop lighting near grounds and stadiums.

sam
on February 13, 2013, 14:49 GMT

Such a sad tragedy! Wishing everyone a fast recovery.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 14:52 GMT

hope to see them back on the cricket field as soon as possible

j
on February 13, 2013, 15:11 GMT

About as an unlucky as you could get for playing cricket. Hope they all recover.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 15:12 GMT

@palla Storms in Johannesburg appear very quickly and are very intense. I live in the same street as KES. There are lightning conductors all over the ridge, our house has one, but we still get hit about once a year. It's not really possible to make an iron ore ridge lightning proof in a storm. The KES fields are actually behind the main ridge, so this would have been quite an unlucky strike. I hope they are all ok.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 16:07 GMT

Unfortunate,i hope SA cricket board supports them in all ways for a speedy recovery.

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 16:40 GMT

hope we will see these kids on cricket field soon! get well soon!!

Dummy4
on February 13, 2013, 20:13 GMT

this is first time i have heard something like this... its very sad and hope the kids get well soon and are back on the fieldd.... our prayers go out to them...

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